By Connor Hamilton

Eggs were stolen from a black vulture nest on NW Campus March 9.

The nest was built last year by two black vultures who decided to nest on the ground just outside the Student Center. The birds have since become a sort of mascot for the campus.

When a large storm struck the campus March 8, many were worried that the nest and its eggs would be damaged by the debris that landed near it. The nest survived the storm, but the eggs went missing the next day.

“Many of us cried, and others were angry wanting justice,” said Jessica Collins, NW academic advisor. “Someone had selfishly destroyed this life that so many of us enjoyed.”

In the past, students and faculty had the opportunity to witness the mother vulture raise fledglings in the same nest. Many would visit the WSTU windows daily to watch the young vultures and their parents.

Black vultures are federally protected birds because of the near extinction they once faced. These vultures will only choose one nesting site during their lifetime unless it is destroyed or tampered with.

The eggs have still not been located, but TCC faculty are hoping to take preventative measures against future tampering.

“If the parents bless us in the future of trying this nesting site one more time, we can have cameras and signs in place to discourage wrongdoers from messing with the nest,” Collins said.